Four door crew cab?

[jtauxe]

I am facing a modification that I am sure will be controversial:

I intend (and have got the parts and skills lined up) to modify a right-hand-drive double cab pickup to have two crew cab doors -- one on each side -- making it a four door pickup. I will be using NOS and good used parts for the B- and C-pillars, and the door, on the right rear. The parts for the right side crew door are much more common than the parts for the left-side crew door, especially in the US. Since the right side door is what needs to be added, this is possible.

And, dare I say, if VW had ever built this option, this is how it would have looked.

PRO: Increased utility, safer access to curb in traffic for crew cabbers, unique mod.

CON: No longer stock, reasonably permanent modification of the vehicle, requires additional structural reinforcement (such as the shear pans underneath double door sliders).

At this point, the PROs outweigh the CONs for me, but the work is not yet done. I would need a compelling argument to not go ahead with the mod.

I am asking for opinions.


_________________
John
"Travelling in a fried-out Kombi, on a hippie trail, head full of zombie..." - Colin Hay and Ron Strykert
http://vw.tauxe.net
1969 Transporter, 1971 Westfalia, 1976, 1977, 1976, 1977, 1971, 1973, 1977 Westfalias,
1979 Champagne Sunroof, 1974 Westfalia Automatic, 1979 Transporter, 1972 Sportsmobile, 1973 Transporter Wild Westerner, 1974 Westfalia parts bus, 1975 Mexican single cab *FOR SALE*, 1978 Irish 4-door double cab RHD

[mojogoat]

You'll put your eye out!!!!
_________________
77 Riviera
78 CEII Westfalia

[VDubTech]

I couldn't for the life of me imagine cutting up any truck with such extensive modifications, let alone a RHD, but it's your rig dude, do as you wish. Even if it's well done, and it sounds like it will be, it's still a hack in my eyes. To be perfectly honest I think it's a cool idea, just not something I would ever consider doing myself, especially with such a rare Bus to begin with.
_________________
First Trip in the RustyBus:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=279077&highlight=

[westy66]

Do it. I've thought about it too... but I don't have a RHD. I've also daydreamed about a walk-thru. Maybe if my truck was rustier.
_________________
'66 Westfalia SO44
'68 Double Cab
'68 Eriba Puck
'03 EuroVan Weekender

[Desertbusman]

[westcoastmarek]

Sounds good to me. T3 has the 4 door TriStar, T1 also has a limited edition 4 door (though can't remember the name right now...)
I drive a 3 door Silverado once in a while and it's a real pain to get stuff in the back if I park close to my hedge...
_________________
1979 Westy Auto
----------------------------------------------
sold...
1979 VW bus, 2L FI, now with a rivi top
1971 7 pass. deluxe
1974 Beetle

[dr.bones]

yes I would do it,its your dc,if you did it right it could almost look like what the factory might had done it.theres always gonna be haters where ever you go,you can please yourself,but not others.

[westy66]

Do it. I've thought about it too... but I don't have a RHD. I've also daydreamed about a walk-thru. Maybe if my truck was rustier.
_________________
'66 Westfalia SO44
'68 Double Cab
'68 Eriba Puck
'03 EuroVan Weekender

[busdaddy]

More doors for your dummy passengers to not close properly or break by slamming the living daylights out of and an extra set of seals to leak and whistle. No thanks, too much work to install and added asspain to live with to justify the work to install and lost value IMO. Why would you need 4 doors anyways?, police truck that an assault team needs to exit in a heartbeat perhaps?, make the rear passengers play nice and wait thier turn to exit safely, it builds character that way, if they don't like it they should walk (unless you are running a pay per ride taxi service)
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
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[mojogoat]

There are those who follow and there are those who lead.
_________________
77 Riviera
78 CEII Westfalia

[babysnakes]

If you are looking for added value, I don't think this would be the way to go. Just leave it stock to get the most return. If you're just looking to blow wind up your own skirt then do it. I am painting my SC a non-stock color, I'll be putting in the wrong engine,I cut out the oil bath stand. To the purist this would drop the value. I plan on keeping it a long time. It's mine. I know you dropped some pretty pennies on those NOS parts. If your going to keep the DC for long time you will enjoy the mods, but sometime down the road when it's time to sell you may be disappointed.

[babysnakes]

[mojogoat]

With regard to bad leaders, who gave us the VW?
_________________
77 Riviera
78 CEII Westfalia

[tristessa]

[notchboy]

I can't see it adding any value as people always wanted to be bone stock. Bone stock is the only way maximum values obtained in any of these cars. But I would still do it anyway!

There are plenty of stock double cabs out there for people to look at.
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[babysnakes]

[notchboy]

[babysnakes]

[jtauxe]

And it will make me happy to have the four doors. I know it is not stock. It adds value to me, if not some future owner. Just like the 2.0-L FI engine that is in it. The stock engine would be a 1600 upright. This engine upgrade is a definite improvement. Does it add value? To me it most certainly does. To a future owner, it would if it were me, but I can see how others would not appreciate it. If it is someone who wants to bring it back to stock, switching the engine back is not a big deal. Heck -- the value of the 2.0-L on the open market could easily pay for that job.

The fourth door is a bit different, in that it is not easily returned to stock (though not impossible either). It does, however, add a lot of utility, and it is done in the proper spirit and execution, so I would not call it a hack job, like those poor buses that are turned into "pickups".

And since when do people care about a RHD drive vehicle in the US? I would not think it is more desirable. It's more of a curiosity. Certain parts have to be obtained from the UK, which is expensive. It is not good for two-lane highways. It is a lot of fun to put a passenger in the front left seat with no steering wheel, though! They usually are very uncomfortable. I keep a spare steering wheel under the seat to hand them, but for some reason it does not put them more at ease.

I do intend to keep this vehicle forever. So resale value will be to the executor of my estate (and my heirs).
_________________
John
"Travelling in a fried-out Kombi, on a hippie trail, head full of zombie..." - Colin Hay and Ron Strykert
http://vw.tauxe.net
1969 Transporter, 1971 Westfalia, 1976, 1977, 1976, 1977, 1971, 1973, 1977 Westfalias,
1979 Champagne Sunroof, 1974 Westfalia Automatic, 1979 Transporter, 1972 Sportsmobile, 1973 Transporter Wild Westerner, 1974 Westfalia parts bus, 1975 Mexican single cab *FOR SALE*, 1978 Irish 4-door double cab RHD

[babysnakes]

And there you have it! Post pics of the mod in progress.